Well boys......the committee has made it official and named Mr. Schiffer as my replacement as Scoutmaster of our great Troop #739. I believe that the adults and the committee made an excellent choice to lead the program from now on......I fully endorse Mr. Schiffer and will help him transition into his new role as well as I can....
With that being said, I want to thank all the adults and boys who made my time as Scoutmaster so wonderful! I thoroughly enjoyed interacting and working with all of you on the many different projects, events, and gatherings we have had the last few years. You all hold a special place in my heart and you shall never be forgotten. I look forward to continuing helping and working with many of you as you continue on your path to Eagle Scout......feel free to reach out to me at any time! I will be there for all of you when you reach the summit and achieve your ultimate goals......
I hope the troop continues to ascend to be the very best that Boy Scouting has to offer in our area. We definitely have the support from the community and adults who volunteer so much of their time and energy to help the boys........it has made me proud to stand with you all and be proud to be a Scout from Bolivar Richburg!
I always try to post a message of some kind in these posts.....normally it is hidden and many Scouts try to figure it out. Well, there is no hiding it this time, because here it is:
From now until the Great Scoutmaster of all times deems us worthy to meet again...........Good-Bye Scouts.......
Good luck, god speed, and with love.....
Big Mike
P.S. By the way, I owe the boys a pizza party and will be doing it sometime in the next month! At that time is when I will present Mr. Schiffer with his Scoutmaster patch......it will be my honor!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
How to build a Scout
There is no really good way to build a Boy Scout.....
After all, how can anyone build another human being? It is not possible, is it?
I believe it is......you see, it is not what you always say, or do, or try.....
I believe Scouts are made from a healthy dose of people who can do different things. For instance, a Scout has to have a steady influence at home.....which is where the foundation is for all good boys. Parents play a key role in helping to form positive habits.....
Secondly, it is imperative that a positive adult leadership core is in place to set up the program correctly, thereby setting up the boys for success early on. The leaders set the pace for the boys......
Older boys examples are paramount to the success in building a Scout. Boys react to their friends and how they do things......thats why it is important that the boys give back to other boys after them....
Other boys the same age is important as well to building a Scout.....positive competition is so important as they can push each other to do better in all activities....
Do we have all of these in our troop?
I believe we have the right ingredients to make a good Scout, a good Scout troop, and a few good men.....
Those of you that are in it for the boys....the boys only.....will see this benefit as they grow......
For the Boys,
Big Mike
After all, how can anyone build another human being? It is not possible, is it?
I believe it is......you see, it is not what you always say, or do, or try.....
I believe Scouts are made from a healthy dose of people who can do different things. For instance, a Scout has to have a steady influence at home.....which is where the foundation is for all good boys. Parents play a key role in helping to form positive habits.....
Secondly, it is imperative that a positive adult leadership core is in place to set up the program correctly, thereby setting up the boys for success early on. The leaders set the pace for the boys......
Older boys examples are paramount to the success in building a Scout. Boys react to their friends and how they do things......thats why it is important that the boys give back to other boys after them....
Other boys the same age is important as well to building a Scout.....positive competition is so important as they can push each other to do better in all activities....
Do we have all of these in our troop?
I believe we have the right ingredients to make a good Scout, a good Scout troop, and a few good men.....
Those of you that are in it for the boys....the boys only.....will see this benefit as they grow......
For the Boys,
Big Mike
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Change from previous communication
My apologies for the confusion here, as I have deleted the other post that was previously published.....
Due to issues we will NOT be moving the meeting nights from Monday nights. There are some issues that need to be ironed out so we will stay on Monday nights for the foreseeable future and beyond. This will guarantee the continuity for the Boy Scouts and other programs within our communities.
I truly apologize for any miscommunication during this process......
Yours in Scouting,
Big Mike
Due to issues we will NOT be moving the meeting nights from Monday nights. There are some issues that need to be ironed out so we will stay on Monday nights for the foreseeable future and beyond. This will guarantee the continuity for the Boy Scouts and other programs within our communities.
I truly apologize for any miscommunication during this process......
Yours in Scouting,
Big Mike
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Tidbits on Information
As you know, we are always trying to tweak our communication efforts in an attempt to make sure everyone knows as much as possible about the program. Whether it is via email, website, facebook, face-to-face, or handout......we are merely trying to make sure we get all program happenings out there....
Please make sure to use the facebook page and check the website for immediate updates as the other forms of communication can sometimes be slower. We will try to keep up the events section as much as possible as that seems to be the preference of people that took the poll we distributed on the FB page as well as the Court of Honor.
We will be looking to distribute the "Scouting for Food" door hangers during the week this upcoming week for a Saturday 4/23 pickup.....if anyone is interested in doing this any night this week please let me know ASAP so we can set it up......
Any of the boys that are working on merit badges outside of troop meetings should KEEP IT UP......let's capitalize on the merit badge madness that culminated with a total of 48 merit badges earned, which guaranteed a pizza party for all of the boys in the very near future.....
Lots and lots and lots of camping opportunities are coming up in the next few weeks and months.....the boys need to make sure that they have their personal equipment together and with them when we go. A few opportunities for improvement have cropped up the last couple of times we were out.....the boys need to double check and "Be Prepared" for all of Mother Nature's possibilities....
Jamaica bound boys: Payments are due in so airfare can be purchased.....
We have picked up a couple of new boys in the last month (WELCOME Josh and Connor) and will be having a Webelos Crossover ceremony for boys that are ready to graduate from the Pack. I am very pleased we have been able to sustain ourselves with new youth as we move forward.....
Remember to read this every week and look for the "Secret Word"......it could be worth something very special.....
Yours in Scouting,
Big Mike
Please make sure to use the facebook page and check the website for immediate updates as the other forms of communication can sometimes be slower. We will try to keep up the events section as much as possible as that seems to be the preference of people that took the poll we distributed on the FB page as well as the Court of Honor.
We will be looking to distribute the "Scouting for Food" door hangers during the week this upcoming week for a Saturday 4/23 pickup.....if anyone is interested in doing this any night this week please let me know ASAP so we can set it up......
Any of the boys that are working on merit badges outside of troop meetings should KEEP IT UP......let's capitalize on the merit badge madness that culminated with a total of 48 merit badges earned, which guaranteed a pizza party for all of the boys in the very near future.....
Lots and lots and lots of camping opportunities are coming up in the next few weeks and months.....the boys need to make sure that they have their personal equipment together and with them when we go. A few opportunities for improvement have cropped up the last couple of times we were out.....the boys need to double check and "Be Prepared" for all of Mother Nature's possibilities....
Jamaica bound boys: Payments are due in so airfare can be purchased.....
We have picked up a couple of new boys in the last month (WELCOME Josh and Connor) and will be having a Webelos Crossover ceremony for boys that are ready to graduate from the Pack. I am very pleased we have been able to sustain ourselves with new youth as we move forward.....
Remember to read this every week and look for the "Secret Word"......it could be worth something very special.....
Yours in Scouting,
Big Mike
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Time to get medieval.....
With our Spring Court officially a success and memory, it is time to re-focus on one of our favorite theme months: Wilderness Survival. The boys have had some of this in the past, whether it by last year's theme month or at Summer camp taking the merit badge for it. We will be stepping it up a bit by incorporating a one night campout on Friday 4/15 at now at undisclosed location (in other words, we are still deciding where to go).....lol.
We will then be working on this theme the rest of the month and test their skills with a 2 day campout at the end of the month. The whole thing that will be different with this theme is that the adult leaders and boys will be not bringing bags of clothes and supplies to these campouts. On the first overnighter coming up this Friday night, the boys will be allowed to bring their sleeping bags and NOTHING ELSE!!!!!!!!! They can only bring what they have or can carry in their pockets......that's it! The only other thing they should bring would be a foil pack dinner to cook on Friday night to eat.....
On Saturday morning, we will be emerging from the woods and going to the Bolivar Fire Hall to help support the Girl Scout pancake breakfast. Mrs. Ellis, in a very gracious way, has stated that the boys can eat for free if they come in their Class "A" uniforms, which they will already have on. I would like to see all parents who pick up their boys from the fire hall to come in and support the Girl Scouts by buying breakfast for themselves.....this is SO important to help and support a wonderful organization that is often there to support our Boy Scouts!
This should be an interesting month for the boys......will definitely be different from most things we do.....parents, please have confidence in them.....THEY CAN DO IT!
Yours in Scouting,
Big Mike
We will then be working on this theme the rest of the month and test their skills with a 2 day campout at the end of the month. The whole thing that will be different with this theme is that the adult leaders and boys will be not bringing bags of clothes and supplies to these campouts. On the first overnighter coming up this Friday night, the boys will be allowed to bring their sleeping bags and NOTHING ELSE!!!!!!!!! They can only bring what they have or can carry in their pockets......that's it! The only other thing they should bring would be a foil pack dinner to cook on Friday night to eat.....
On Saturday morning, we will be emerging from the woods and going to the Bolivar Fire Hall to help support the Girl Scout pancake breakfast. Mrs. Ellis, in a very gracious way, has stated that the boys can eat for free if they come in their Class "A" uniforms, which they will already have on. I would like to see all parents who pick up their boys from the fire hall to come in and support the Girl Scouts by buying breakfast for themselves.....this is SO important to help and support a wonderful organization that is often there to support our Boy Scouts!
This should be an interesting month for the boys......will definitely be different from most things we do.....parents, please have confidence in them.....THEY CAN DO IT!
Yours in Scouting,
Big Mike
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Scouting is a path in life, not just a Monday night thing......
A few thoughts while wondering how Mr. Woodcock is doing today.......
1) Tomorrow is our annual Spring Court of Honor......a time when we can reflect on what the program and more importantly the boys have accomplished in the last 6 months. We have had successful elections for new youth leaders and have fully integrated them into running the troop.....we have seen Merit badge madness take the boys to numbers of earned awards never seen at a spring Court (more on that tomorrow)......we have started our camping season with new tents and a continued path toward patrol cooking and self-reliance......the boys have actually started to open their books a little more other than on Monday nights.....
2) Many of the boys have extremely busy schedules with family commitments, sports schedules, church activities, and other things they do.......the fact that they continue to do all that is necessary for their own advancement in our program PLUS still helping each other and hanging out for fun is testament to the staying power this troop now has. I guess we are just not a Monday night thing anymore.....
3) The adult leaders are working as mentors for the patrols as well as individual youth leadership positions. Many of the adult leaders are also looking at or are already taking classes and courses to make themselves better leaders for all our boys. I challenge all adult leaders to do this to show the boys that improving one's self is part of everyone and that it is OK to constantly strive to do better or achieve more. That is why I am fairly confident that we will be adding to our Eagle's nest very soon.....Eagle's fly all the time, not just on Monday nights....
4) We will be adding to our troop a lot in the next few months as our Pack continues to run an excellent program and feed our troop with Webelo's that are ready and willing to learn and be part of our group. We will be having a cross over ceremony soon, which will not only give a proper beginning to the incoming boys but will also allow our current troop members to do what they do best: ACT and be ENTERTAINERS.....I am sure they do that all the time, not just on Monday nights....
I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow night at our 2011 Spring Court of Honor......which is a Monday night :-)
Yours in Scouting,
Big Mike
1) Tomorrow is our annual Spring Court of Honor......a time when we can reflect on what the program and more importantly the boys have accomplished in the last 6 months. We have had successful elections for new youth leaders and have fully integrated them into running the troop.....we have seen Merit badge madness take the boys to numbers of earned awards never seen at a spring Court (more on that tomorrow)......we have started our camping season with new tents and a continued path toward patrol cooking and self-reliance......the boys have actually started to open their books a little more other than on Monday nights.....
2) Many of the boys have extremely busy schedules with family commitments, sports schedules, church activities, and other things they do.......the fact that they continue to do all that is necessary for their own advancement in our program PLUS still helping each other and hanging out for fun is testament to the staying power this troop now has. I guess we are just not a Monday night thing anymore.....
3) The adult leaders are working as mentors for the patrols as well as individual youth leadership positions. Many of the adult leaders are also looking at or are already taking classes and courses to make themselves better leaders for all our boys. I challenge all adult leaders to do this to show the boys that improving one's self is part of everyone and that it is OK to constantly strive to do better or achieve more. That is why I am fairly confident that we will be adding to our Eagle's nest very soon.....Eagle's fly all the time, not just on Monday nights....
4) We will be adding to our troop a lot in the next few months as our Pack continues to run an excellent program and feed our troop with Webelo's that are ready and willing to learn and be part of our group. We will be having a cross over ceremony soon, which will not only give a proper beginning to the incoming boys but will also allow our current troop members to do what they do best: ACT and be ENTERTAINERS.....I am sure they do that all the time, not just on Monday nights....
I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow night at our 2011 Spring Court of Honor......which is a Monday night :-)
Yours in Scouting,
Big Mike
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The question is.....
How do you like how our program is going? Do you feel as if things are going well? Are you willing to help make things go Better? I am always looking for ways to do things that will be enjoyed by all of you......after all, all ideas and suggestions are good! It has been often said the only bad suggestion is the one not mentioned......
We will be quite busy the next few months as we will be Revving up for the camping season. We expect that many of you will want to go camping As much as possible. We are planning a wilderness survival theme with at least 2 outings for the month and at least 6 more campouts this year......you will not be able to say that we will not get into the woods enough for sure!
Merit Badge Madness looks to be quite successful as we are quickly approaching our goal of 38 merit badges. I am Very impressed with the amount of work that has gone into this contest and hope that we attain our organizational goal. it should be quite a Court of Honor for our troop with all of these merit badges and rank advancements......to say I am proud is quite an understatement.....
I hope to continue to see so many of you at troop meetings......it says a lot for all of you that are so busy with many school and family activities that you continue to be able to make the meetings and work so hard at advancement. Every member of this troop should be proud of what we have and will continue to accomplish.......
Keep up the good work!
Big Mike
We will be quite busy the next few months as we will be Revving up for the camping season. We expect that many of you will want to go camping As much as possible. We are planning a wilderness survival theme with at least 2 outings for the month and at least 6 more campouts this year......you will not be able to say that we will not get into the woods enough for sure!
Merit Badge Madness looks to be quite successful as we are quickly approaching our goal of 38 merit badges. I am Very impressed with the amount of work that has gone into this contest and hope that we attain our organizational goal. it should be quite a Court of Honor for our troop with all of these merit badges and rank advancements......to say I am proud is quite an understatement.....
I hope to continue to see so many of you at troop meetings......it says a lot for all of you that are so busy with many school and family activities that you continue to be able to make the meetings and work so hard at advancement. Every member of this troop should be proud of what we have and will continue to accomplish.......
Keep up the good work!
Big Mike
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